Newborn

No one can deny the critical role that mental health and in particular, maternal mental health, has on the healthy, social, behavioural and cognitive development of an infant. We have full understanding of the effect that the quality of the maternal-infant relationship has on the development of the infants brain and its mental functions (1). During pregnancy, maternal anxiety can harm the development of the infants brain with consequences on the infants behaviour (2). Maternal anxiety has been associated with a difficult toddler disposition (3), an increase in infant cortisol levels (4) and behavioural difficulties in childhood (5). Stress during pregnancy increases the risk of attention deficit and hyperactivityς, anxiety and speech delay (6) as well as future mental health problems (7).

Maternal mental health after childbirth has consequences on nursing and milestone developments of the infant. In addition, postpartum depression hinders the mother-infant relationship and the infant has a higher risk of developing insecure attachment and psychopathology (8), that can negatively influence his/her cognitive development (9).

Research reveals that infant mental health is rooted in the ability of parents to respond and care for their babies needs. We also know that the mental state of the mother is the single most important factor in infant mental health. The infant-mother relationship, whether we like it or not, is critical to the development of future mental health in our communities. What is the link between infancy and adulthood? How does an adult become responsible for his/her actions and useful in society? The answers are given indirectly through the relationship between mother and infant.